Week in Review Archive

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by half a point in September, the first cut since 2020. The Federal interest rate sits between 4.75% and 5%, hopefully mitigating the effects of high inflation and offering individuals and businesses a bit of relief. Despite this recent cut, the interest rate is nearly double the pre-pandemic rate.

More than half of Argentina’s 46 million population is now living in poverty, new figures indicate. The poverty rate skyrocketed to 52.9% in the first half of 2024, surging from 40.1% one year earlier, according to the government’s INDEC statistics agency.

Steep losses for the stock market and a slump in FDI to the lowest level in decades has brought added urgency to efforts by officials in Beijing to shore up confidence that the CCP regime is prepared to take the steps required to stabilize an economy that has shown signs of wobbling amid mounting difficulties for the crucial property sector.

Amidst the war in Ukraine, a worsening labor shortage and an economy reliant on the nation’s military mobilization, payment delays are on the rise in Russia prompting concern for credit managers entangled with businesses overseas. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised India’s ongoing impressive economic performance, highlighting that the country is once again poised to lead the ranking of the ten fastest-growing major economies in 2024.

Ukraine’s economic outlook stands conditional based on a number of factors: The destruction of energy infrastructure, logistical mishaps, a difficult labor market and high security risks.

Venezuela faces worsening economic and political hardship after President Nicolás Maduro’s election, sparking global outcry over corruption and persistent economic problems. The United States has firmly halted any efforts to ease sanctions and is expected to intensify these measures unless President Maduro resigns.

Effective leadership requires effective question-asking. Sometimes, the job of a leader can feel as if it is infinitely more answer-providing than question-driving. Despite that, the strongest leaders recognize that the questions more than the answers tend to significantly impact the achievement of those they serve. With that in mind, here are three questions that leaders should ask themselves daily. (In complete honesty, I don’t do this as often as I should.)